Hopes grow D’Arcy, Earls and O’Mahony will be fit

Declan Kidney may have delayed naming his team until tomorrow but hopes of a clean bill of health for Sunday’s Six Nations clash with England at Lansdowne Road continue to mount with every passing day.

Gordon D’Arcy (dead leg), Peter O’Mahony (concussion) and Keith Earls (shoulder) had been pegged as the trio giving most cause for concern on Wednesday, yet all took a full part in training yesterday.

Earls was still due to undergo a scan on his troublesome joint in the afternoon but assistant coach Mark Tainton sounded a positive note on the Munster back as well as Sean O’Brien, who sat out the session with a sore calf.

The Irish squad is off duty today but will return to training at Carton House tomorrow, after which Kidney is due to announce his team and bench.